Name: Chicken Rice Soup
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 3 pound whole chicken (or see notes); 2 tsp kohser salt (or half as much if using fine table salt); 1 onion, roughly chopped; 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped; 2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped; 2 bay leaves; 1 cup brown rice; 2 cups chicken stock (or the amount as per your rice package); 2 celery stalks; 1 carrot; ½ medium onion; 1 cup frozen peas, optional; kosher salt, to taste; pepper, to taste; fresh herbs such as green onions, dill, basil, parsley or combination, for serving; 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste plus lemon slices for serving

DifficultyBeginner

Yields6 Servings

For the homemade chicken stock:

1 3 pound whole chicken (or see notes)

2 tsp kohser salt (or half as much if using fine table salt)

1 onion, roughly chopped

1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped

2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

2 bay leaves

For the soup:

1 cup brown rice

2 cups chicken stock (or the amount as per your rice package)

2 celery stalks

1 carrot

½ medium onion

1 cup frozen peas, optional

kosher salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

fresh herbs such as green onions, dill, basil, parsley or combination, for serving

3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste plus lemon slices for serving

Combine all of the stock ingredients in a large stock pot. The liquid should just barely cover the chicken, add a bit more stock if needed. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer for 60-75 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, tender, falling off the bone. If you are using chicken pieces (instead of the full chicken), you may only need 35-45 minutes.
Strain the stock into a heat resistant container. Cool the chicken and shred it once it's cool enough to touch. Use stock and chicken right away or store in the fridge. if you are planning to make your chicken pot pie at a later time.
Discard the bones, bay leaf and cooked vegetables (or snack on the boiled carrots and celery like I do!)

Cook rice as per the package instructions (typically, 1 cup of brown rice will need 2 cups of liquid and about half an hour of cooking,) however, use chicken stock instead of water.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottom stock pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and cook for 7-10 minutes until soft and just starting to turn golden.

Add chicken stock and bring everything to a simmer and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in rice, chicken and peas. Simmer until they are just heated through. Somewhere around 5 minutes or so. Taste your soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper.

Add some fresh lemon juice to the soup. We are adding only a little bit of lemon juice just to brighten up the flavours; then we serve the soup with extra lemon wedges so each diner can adjust the amount of lemon juice according to their own taste. I personally add a lot of lemon juice to my bowls of this delicious chicken rice soup.

Ladle the soup into your serving bowls. Garnish with the herbs of choice. Serve with extra lemon wedges.

Ingredients